Paraneoplastic Hyperfibrinolysis: Detection of Occult Prostate Cancer with 18F-Fluorodeoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography-Computed Tomography

Abstract

Hyperfibrinolysis caused by abnormal over-activation of the fibrinolytic system can be associated with occult cancer. We present an interesting case of a 48-year-old man with paraneoplastic hyperfibrinolysis, where 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT) was able to detect occult prostate-specific antigen-negative metastatic prostate cancer as the underlying etiology. This shows that while 18F-FDG PET-CT has overall poor sensitivity for prostate cancer, it can be useful in certain clinical situations.